"While Jesus never pulled any punches in discussions to the Pharisees and the religous system, you must understand that you do not have the same liberties in speech that God incarnate had. "
Here is a model of preaching St. Stephen.
Acts 7
51: Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
52: Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
53: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
54: When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
55: But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56: And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57: Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58: And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
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Doesn't quite fit your model, does it? He was full of the Holy Ghost as he preached those "harsh' words. Do not be deceived by the syrupy
peace and serenity of the world.
Stephen's preaching produced fruits, but not immediately. When the Word of God in planted according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it produces furit. The seed was planted in Saul of Tarsus's heart with those "harsh" words of Stehphen. |
